Time is just flying by lately and I thought it would be much more fun to write about something more interesting than treatments.Sometimes I think it is easy to forget, that fighting cancer is just a part of your life, not all of it.One which no-one chooses but many of us have to live with day to day. With that said, here are some of the more enjoyable parts of my life to share.
Chris and I have received our passports and are looking forward to traveling to Europe for the first time! We will visit Tim in Prague and then spend some time in Great Britain. We have been busy trying to plan the trip out. It is quite time consuming and so difficult to pick what to do and where to go.Thankful for Rick Steves' travel books!
Speaking of Tim, he has decided to move back home in July and we are looking forward to all of us being together again.
Over Spring Break we all decided it was time for a family camping trip. That is exactly what we did! Four crazy days at the lake camping. We started in shorts and left in 6 inches of snow! What a fun time we had playing sport toss,LOTS of Uno, making smores and beautiful walks in the snow.
Today began a new session of classes I am teaching and thoroughly enjoying! I teach a Ladies Boot camp and a 5k Learn to Run group as well as some personal training. It is so fun to be a part of these groups and peoples lives, seeing the wonderful changes in their lives. One of the ladies tonight asked me " so when do we get that runners high"? :)
Everything is budding and blooming outdoors! I have planted some tulips, that are beautiful and my garden is complete with herbs and veggies! The garden has always been organic, but this year we have decided to use all organic for the yard as well. Using fertilizer that smells like a chicken coop and nematodes for bug control. So far we have very green weeds and a garden that is doing ok. Not sure we know what we are doing, but we are learning.
Chris and I are thrilled to be running again and the last few runs have been fantastic! We are making it a priority to run 3 times a week ( plus what I do with my groups). I truly believe that running has played such a huge role in how fast I am recovering from surgery and radiation. You go into the treatments, etc. stronger and recover much faster. Even if all you can do is walk it helps!
This concludes a little of "this and that". Sometimes I just think about how happy I am and how much I am simply enjoying life right now :) God is so good to me.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Getting back out there!
After what seems like a very long time, Chris and I started back on our running schedule last night! Our evening runs are 4 miles. It was not easy nor did it look pretty ( nothing like the marathon runners we were just 4 months ago:) . But after Surgery, 25 more radiation treatments and several new medications we are so thrilled and thankful to be back out there once again! News of what is next for the two of us coming soon.... it will be exciting!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Cancer Update from Johns-Hopkins: Bottled water in your car is very dangerous!
Sheryl Crow's oncologist told her: women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.... Pass this on to all the women in your life.
This information is the kind we need to know that just might save
us!Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle instead of plastic!
This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer
No plastic wrap in microwave.
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.
He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using
plastic containers.
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastic releases
dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.
Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex
or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and
soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper.
It's just safer to use tempered glass, CorningWare, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved
away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saranwrap, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in Your life.
Today is a gift, embrace it
This information is the kind we need to know that just might save
us!Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle instead of plastic!
This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer
No plastic wrap in microwave.
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.
He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.
He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using
plastic containers.
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastic releases
dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.
Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex
or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and
soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper.
It's just safer to use tempered glass, CorningWare, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved
away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saranwrap, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in Your life.
Today is a gift, embrace it
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Healing & Helping Hands
I am quite happy to say that the burns are finally healing and I am feeling much better! I was able to get a cream that helped with the pain and healing. It worked quite well and very fast. I now have a tan ( and peeling skin, yuck) in the most ridiculous of areas! My energy is also much better,but still have a ways to go.I have run a few times, but am not yet back to a regular routine.
Things got kind of rough there for a while and I feel so very fortunate to have had so many friends that brought us dinners and offered help. Each and every dinner was a blessing as that time of day is difficult from fatigue. So.. thank you everyone!
As I write this, my next blessing is Maria, who is here now! We decided to get some help with keeping up with cleaning the house. She is as sweet as can be and this allows me to handle teaching and training my clients and keep up with everything else.
For me, being able to teach, exercise and continue my "normal" day to day life is a vital part of staying well. These few things that may seem small have been a huge help!
With that said... it is time to pay bills, do the dishes and laundry! Have a wonderful Day!
Things got kind of rough there for a while and I feel so very fortunate to have had so many friends that brought us dinners and offered help. Each and every dinner was a blessing as that time of day is difficult from fatigue. So.. thank you everyone!
As I write this, my next blessing is Maria, who is here now! We decided to get some help with keeping up with cleaning the house. She is as sweet as can be and this allows me to handle teaching and training my clients and keep up with everything else.
For me, being able to teach, exercise and continue my "normal" day to day life is a vital part of staying well. These few things that may seem small have been a huge help!
With that said... it is time to pay bills, do the dishes and laundry! Have a wonderful Day!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
chemo or not??
Today I saw my Onc. and spent quite a bit of time discussing what to do from here for my treatment.This is a difficult decision for me.When this was a new cancer and a rough 6 months was ahead, to aggressively treat it I could wrap my head around that, there was an end end in sight. One filled with hope. Because this cancer has metastasized, there is with that the knowledge that it is incurable BUT treatable, with only God knowing the answers.
So we, myself, Chris and my team of doctors/nurses try to make the best choices we can with the knowledge we have at this time.
Both of my doctors took a look at the burns today from the radiation and gave me some medicine that will help with the healing and a numbing agent in it to help with the pain.
What we know is the hormone therapy has worked well for me so I will continue on the Lupron injections. I was on Arimidex and taken off it the past 2 weeks due to headaches, severe pain in my hands and my BP being high. All have gone away since stopping it. So... I will once again be getting another drug, Faslodex, by injections. I stopped it once before because of side effects and I guess I will have to decide which side effects I can live with.Prayers are needed here :)
So, back off Arimidex and back on Faslodex.
The Tykerb, when it was raised to 5 pills a day started to cause a lot of stomach pain and problems, which I have had these past few days. Dr. A told me to go back to 4 again.
One of the hardest decisions was whether to begin chemo or not. At this time we have decided not to. I will continue the hormone treatments and my scans/labs to monitor closely.
My recent labs came back with my tumor markers down and in normal range again! Chris and I will continue to pray about these decisions and seek the Lord.
So we, myself, Chris and my team of doctors/nurses try to make the best choices we can with the knowledge we have at this time.
Both of my doctors took a look at the burns today from the radiation and gave me some medicine that will help with the healing and a numbing agent in it to help with the pain.
What we know is the hormone therapy has worked well for me so I will continue on the Lupron injections. I was on Arimidex and taken off it the past 2 weeks due to headaches, severe pain in my hands and my BP being high. All have gone away since stopping it. So... I will once again be getting another drug, Faslodex, by injections. I stopped it once before because of side effects and I guess I will have to decide which side effects I can live with.Prayers are needed here :)
So, back off Arimidex and back on Faslodex.
The Tykerb, when it was raised to 5 pills a day started to cause a lot of stomach pain and problems, which I have had these past few days. Dr. A told me to go back to 4 again.
One of the hardest decisions was whether to begin chemo or not. At this time we have decided not to. I will continue the hormone treatments and my scans/labs to monitor closely.
My recent labs came back with my tumor markers down and in normal range again! Chris and I will continue to pray about these decisions and seek the Lord.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
This too shall pass~
A while back when I was beginning my radiation treatment I wrote about the similarities between training for a marathon and going through cancer treatments.
http://elayneminich.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-trainingagain.html
Well, now a few months and 25 treatments later I am facing the hard part of this "training". In particular;
you have to get up each day and push through physically weather you feel like it or not
you have to get used to pain and learn how to ignore it
The pain from the burns is much worse than the previous times I have had radiation. In particular, under my arm. My energy levels are so low that when I do feel ok, I want to do everything. That , however does not last long. Taking all these medications is also a struggle and knowing what the right thing to do and take make for very difficult decisions.
I know I have to get through this part and "this too shall pass". Thanks for listening & for your thoughts & prayers.
By the way,I would take training for and running a marathon over this any day!
http://elayneminich.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-trainingagain.html
Well, now a few months and 25 treatments later I am facing the hard part of this "training". In particular;
you have to get up each day and push through physically weather you feel like it or not
you have to get used to pain and learn how to ignore it
The pain from the burns is much worse than the previous times I have had radiation. In particular, under my arm. My energy levels are so low that when I do feel ok, I want to do everything. That , however does not last long. Taking all these medications is also a struggle and knowing what the right thing to do and take make for very difficult decisions.
I know I have to get through this part and "this too shall pass". Thanks for listening & for your thoughts & prayers.
By the way,I would take training for and running a marathon over this any day!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Radiation is over!!
Today was my 25th and final treatment!I am so glad it is over. I am burned, very fatigued and simply ready to begin healing.This was the 3rd time I have had to have radiation and I pray the last.
I have decided to get some help for a while. Today, my friends daughter came over for a few hours and was a huge help getting the house cleaned up with me.
I plan to begin having someone help with cleaning the house for a while so I can concentrate on resting, healing, continuing to teach my classes and take care of my garden and all the other home responsibilities.
We have many great friends that have been bringing us dinners which have been delicious and very much appreciated.
As of now my cold/flu is getting better but still don't feel so great.The doctor said it will be a few weeks for my skin to start healing and at least a month before the fatigue gets better.
It looks like it will be a little longer, but I look forward to feeling better and getting my running shoes back on!
I have decided to get some help for a while. Today, my friends daughter came over for a few hours and was a huge help getting the house cleaned up with me.
I plan to begin having someone help with cleaning the house for a while so I can concentrate on resting, healing, continuing to teach my classes and take care of my garden and all the other home responsibilities.
We have many great friends that have been bringing us dinners which have been delicious and very much appreciated.
As of now my cold/flu is getting better but still don't feel so great.The doctor said it will be a few weeks for my skin to start healing and at least a month before the fatigue gets better.
It looks like it will be a little longer, but I look forward to feeling better and getting my running shoes back on!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Resting...
I am coming to the end of my radiation treatments with just 4 more days to go. My skin is getting burned pretty bad now and my clothes hurt to wear. A big giant t shirt is preferred. I see the doctor tomorrow and I was told he will give me some medication for my skin. So far, I have just used pure aloe vera and cortisone 10 with aloe for the itching. It is like having a really bad sunburn.
Unfortunately this last week has been coupled with a bad cold, so I am pretty much out of commission. I have mostly been sleeping.
I had planned to plant my garden with veggies & herbs on Sunday, but did not feel well enough to do it. So.. Chris worked for hours out there, tilling, pulling weeds, mixing new soil in and planting my garden for me :) What a great husband I have!
At first I wanted to wait because I did not want to miss the planting process because I was "too sick". It is always so therapeutic for me to plant the garden. But, I told myself " I will have plenty of time to work in my garden". Instead I just hung out and slept on the swing and kept Chris company.
It was a beautiful day!
Unfortunately this last week has been coupled with a bad cold, so I am pretty much out of commission. I have mostly been sleeping.
I had planned to plant my garden with veggies & herbs on Sunday, but did not feel well enough to do it. So.. Chris worked for hours out there, tilling, pulling weeds, mixing new soil in and planting my garden for me :) What a great husband I have!
At first I wanted to wait because I did not want to miss the planting process because I was "too sick". It is always so therapeutic for me to plant the garden. But, I told myself " I will have plenty of time to work in my garden". Instead I just hung out and slept on the swing and kept Chris company.
It was a beautiful day!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Komen survivor celebration brunch
Saturday, I attended the annual Komen survivor celebration brunch, fashion show and grants presentation with my friend and sister survivor, Natasha! We had a great time and I won 8 tickets to the Rangers game! She won jewelry and a makeover!
It was very informative to see where and how the money raised from events like this and Race For The Cure are being used.
The "models" in the fashion show are all breast cancer survivors, including a very funny husband & wife duo.
The speaker recognized all the survivors and had us stand by # of years survived, I am now in the 10 or more group. By the time everyone was recognized there were only a few people still sitting. Sad and amazing all at the same time. So many have breast cancer and so many are surviving!
On a personal note; they spoke about many of the survivors, stages, treatments, etc. What you did not hear once was stage 4. I came home with mixed feelings. First, thankful for how long I have been able to live with cancer and continue to do so. Then, a bit of a "reality check" ~ Stage 4
It was a delightful morning with a friend of nearly 20 years, who, when we were both young mothers, raising our kids together, would have never imagined we would together be here one day.Luv ya N!
It was very informative to see where and how the money raised from events like this and Race For The Cure are being used.
The "models" in the fashion show are all breast cancer survivors, including a very funny husband & wife duo.
The speaker recognized all the survivors and had us stand by # of years survived, I am now in the 10 or more group. By the time everyone was recognized there were only a few people still sitting. Sad and amazing all at the same time. So many have breast cancer and so many are surviving!
On a personal note; they spoke about many of the survivors, stages, treatments, etc. What you did not hear once was stage 4. I came home with mixed feelings. First, thankful for how long I have been able to live with cancer and continue to do so. Then, a bit of a "reality check" ~ Stage 4
It was a delightful morning with a friend of nearly 20 years, who, when we were both young mothers, raising our kids together, would have never imagined we would together be here one day.Luv ya N!
Friday, March 26, 2010
One more week....
Today was treatment #20, 5 more to go next week! I am ready for this to be over. The worst problem I have from this is the awful fatigue. I last till about 3:00 each day and then that's it.Thankful however that I am able to continue training with my clients, get my treatments done and some errands before the fatigue hits.
I did see my oncologist Thursday and there are once again changes with my medications.
The Tykerb has been raised back up to 5 from 4. Please pray that this fatigue is from the toll of the radiation and not the tykerb affecting my heart. I should start to feel better a few weeks after treatments are done.
The Arimidex has been stopped for 2 weeks due to headaches and some cognitive effects. We are also suspecting ( pretty sure) this med has also been the reason for my BP going up. it was 145/96 yesterday. Today( no arimidex) it has been 127/78. way better! prayers that this continues and a different med. will work without the side effects.
My Dr. and I are still discussing the chemo, if and when to begin with that. Getting the two previous mentioned meds under control first is where we are now.
There are so many decisions to make, and really none are right or wrong. A lot of this is trial and error, statistics, trusting my doctors advice and my own intuition with regards to knowing and understanding my own body . But mostly.. it is prayer, faith & trust in the Great Physician.
I did see my oncologist Thursday and there are once again changes with my medications.
The Tykerb has been raised back up to 5 from 4. Please pray that this fatigue is from the toll of the radiation and not the tykerb affecting my heart. I should start to feel better a few weeks after treatments are done.
The Arimidex has been stopped for 2 weeks due to headaches and some cognitive effects. We are also suspecting ( pretty sure) this med has also been the reason for my BP going up. it was 145/96 yesterday. Today( no arimidex) it has been 127/78. way better! prayers that this continues and a different med. will work without the side effects.
My Dr. and I are still discussing the chemo, if and when to begin with that. Getting the two previous mentioned meds under control first is where we are now.
There are so many decisions to make, and really none are right or wrong. A lot of this is trial and error, statistics, trusting my doctors advice and my own intuition with regards to knowing and understanding my own body . But mostly.. it is prayer, faith & trust in the Great Physician.
Monday, March 22, 2010
9 more days!
Today began the second part of my radiation treatments. I am receiving the same amount of radiation, it will just be targeting the area of the tumor now.There are 9 more to go, with that being a total of 25 all together.
My skin is now getting a bit raw, red and itchy. The aloe and cortisone cream do help a lot. The biggest issue i am having is fatigue. I realized how much it is affecting me when we went on a 4 day camping trip this weekend. I was exhausted when we left and had so much more energy by the time I got home. Each day was better and better.A 4 day break from radiation was wonderful!
So.. I am looking forward to getting the next 9 days over with and then regaining that energy in time.
My skin is now getting a bit raw, red and itchy. The aloe and cortisone cream do help a lot. The biggest issue i am having is fatigue. I realized how much it is affecting me when we went on a 4 day camping trip this weekend. I was exhausted when we left and had so much more energy by the time I got home. Each day was better and better.A 4 day break from radiation was wonderful!
So.. I am looking forward to getting the next 9 days over with and then regaining that energy in time.
Monday, March 15, 2010
13 Days
Today I had my 13th day of radiation. I will have 2 more this week to finish the treatment on the larger area and next week resume one or two more weeks targeting the tumor.
I am defiantly feeling more tired today after the radiation. Matt made dinner for all of us and Chris and I watched the movie "Moon". It was ok.
I did see my surgeon last week, he and the radiologist both said they cannot feel the tumor anymore.I do not have to see the surgeon any longer and have been cleared to resume normal activity. Now,if I just can find the energy to do so :)
I had worked my way up to 5 pills with the Tykerb, however my doctor has me back down to 4. I started having some chest pains last night so I am back to 4. This is the medication that can effect your heart like the Herceptin did in the past.If it happens again, I am to stop the medication. Otherwise I have labs and an apt. next week.
The side effects are starting to add up but overall I am doing well.Not much running and that has been disappointing.But... my awesome son ran for me... see previous post :)
I am defiantly feeling more tired today after the radiation. Matt made dinner for all of us and Chris and I watched the movie "Moon". It was ok.
I did see my surgeon last week, he and the radiologist both said they cannot feel the tumor anymore.I do not have to see the surgeon any longer and have been cleared to resume normal activity. Now,if I just can find the energy to do so :)
I had worked my way up to 5 pills with the Tykerb, however my doctor has me back down to 4. I started having some chest pains last night so I am back to 4. This is the medication that can effect your heart like the Herceptin did in the past.If it happens again, I am to stop the medication. Otherwise I have labs and an apt. next week.
The side effects are starting to add up but overall I am doing well.Not much running and that has been disappointing.But... my awesome son ran for me... see previous post :)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Beam number 4...
Tomorrow will complete 2 weeks or 10 days of radiation. It is a 40 minute drive and the treatment takes about 5 minutes. There are 7 "beams" shot in the very short session, but it is beam number four that seems to last forever. The first day, I got a little scared and thought " ahhhh....where did you guys go?? I am sure it just feels much longer than it is but quite unnerving at times.
So far it is going well and my radiologist said he can no longer feel any of the tumor.My skin is still doing well, no itching and just some discoloration.
Today was my final visit to my surgeon. He said " this looks great, I did a good job"! And he did. He also said the site looks and feels good. He gave me clearance to use the muscle again. So tonight I did my first weight training session in a very long time.
I started with light weights and am a little sore, just in the muscle that had surgery. Otherwise, fine and it felt good!
Tomorrow also marks the day I go up to 5 pills with the Tykerb, which is the where I will stay as long as I can handle the side effects. so far, so good.My energy is also much better this week.
We appreciate your continued prayers as I adjust to these new treatments and that once again this cancer will be "put to sleep", prayerfully forever.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Layla went to play with the angels early this morning. Rest in peace precious Layla.
Another precious one lost to cancer
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Balancing Act...
It is Sunday night and I made it through the first week! I have now had 7 radiation treatments and they are "so far so good". Skin is getting a little pink but not too bad. I felt exhausted all last week and asked the radiologist if I would feel this way so soon from the radiation. He said no. I didn't remember feeling so tired from previous treatments so I thought maybe this is not the time to go vegetarian.So,I ate a big bowl of stew made with Bison meat for dinner and felt much better the next day.Thanks to my friend Dawn for making that. I will just continue with organic meats for now to be sure I am getting enough protein/ iron.
I have successfully taken the Tykerb for week one at 3 pills per day, and 4 pills for the last 4 days. The side effects have been minimal and so far tolerable.On Thursday I will take 5 a day and that is the dose my doctor wants me at.
The dosage on the Beta blocker is so small I don't think it is making me too tired but has brought my BP down some, not as low as I would like to see it.
I am currently taking 6 different medications along with my daily radiation. Trying to balance all these meds, handle side effects and figure out which meds to take when and with or with out food, etc. has definitely been challenging.
There will be one more med. added (Xeloda) which is the chemotherapy.I don't know exactly when yet.My Oncologist is saying 6 months on this treatment as long as all is going well. So, as you can see we are just at the beginning.
My classes and personal training are continuing and I love training these wonderful ladies! I have been continuing to run and walk but no where near the level i wish i was at.
I see my surgeon on Wednesday and assume i will get the ok to lift things again that are heavier than "a gallon of milk".
We truly feel your prayers and several of you have asked for specific things to pray about.
~ that the treatments will be successful
~ for healing both physically and emotionally
~ little to no side effects as the radiation, medication and dosages increase
~for strength & energy
~ for my family as this journey has been long and difficult
Thanks all~
I have successfully taken the Tykerb for week one at 3 pills per day, and 4 pills for the last 4 days. The side effects have been minimal and so far tolerable.On Thursday I will take 5 a day and that is the dose my doctor wants me at.
The dosage on the Beta blocker is so small I don't think it is making me too tired but has brought my BP down some, not as low as I would like to see it.
I am currently taking 6 different medications along with my daily radiation. Trying to balance all these meds, handle side effects and figure out which meds to take when and with or with out food, etc. has definitely been challenging.
There will be one more med. added (Xeloda) which is the chemotherapy.I don't know exactly when yet.My Oncologist is saying 6 months on this treatment as long as all is going well. So, as you can see we are just at the beginning.
My classes and personal training are continuing and I love training these wonderful ladies! I have been continuing to run and walk but no where near the level i wish i was at.
I see my surgeon on Wednesday and assume i will get the ok to lift things again that are heavier than "a gallon of milk".
We truly feel your prayers and several of you have asked for specific things to pray about.
~ that the treatments will be successful
~ for healing both physically and emotionally
~ little to no side effects as the radiation, medication and dosages increase
~for strength & energy
~ for my family as this journey has been long and difficult
Thanks all~
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